Part 19 (1/2)

Then, for the second tiled with so fear, and I wished I had a friend on board with me

It see for co true For there was a huddled-up for on the bottom of the boat, its head inclined half on and half off the stern thwart, its whole attitude suggestive of the helplessness of death

I stood as if paralysed for a few seconds, filled with a craven longing to get back to the cosy cabin, shut the hatch, and wait till daylight before approaching any nearer that still forht reveal But hts soon ca bit of humanity was not dead, but had been sent ht to revive and shelter

Feeling that I ht not act at all--or at least till daybreak--I put a great restraint upon ht up the la head on towhich had concealed the face fell back, and in aand horror vanished once for all--sed up in pity, compassion, and a and very pretty girl, ht teht I could see she was a lady born and bred; her face alone told me that, and the rich material of fur-lined cloak and hood ht visitor, then; but certainly what seereat mystery--fardoith the tide would have furnished

A lady, insensible apparently fro alone in an open boat at ht, on a lonely tidal water, far fro, and saved fro hours of exposure--perhaps death--by thewith reat a puzzle to attempt to solve on the spur of the moetting my fair and mysterious visitor into my cabin, there to try to undo the effects of whatever untoward accidents had befallen her

It was no easy le-handed and in darkness, except for the hazy bea, lurching boat to the yacht But, luckily for ht and slender, and I did it without mishap, I hardly kno, and then soon had her in the little cabin, laid carefully upon s, with a pillow under her head

I soon knew she was alive, for there was a distinct, though slight, rise and fall of her bosom as she breathed, but my difficulty was to knohat re the half-drowned, but in this case insensibility seemed to have been caused by the blow on her forehead, if it was not from shock or fear

So all I could do was to force a few drops of brandy between the white teeth, and bathe the forehead patiently, and hope that nature would soon reassert itself with these aids

After what see while to me, but which I suppose was not more than a quarter of an hour or twenty h ca to”

But it was e froh a colour caer and ular, the warmth of the cabin had its effect, and she sank into a natural and peaceful sleep

My greatest anxiety being now relieved, andpeacefully enough, e position I was so unexpectedly placed in; but in norance as to the identity of e, where she came from, what had happened, and of the whole chain of circue visit, I came to the conclusion that I could only wait for her to awake and enlightenvaluable ti and darkness; whilst, ht awake and find herself deserted, instead of findingto take her instructions for her safe restoration to her friends

So there was nothing formade up the fire in the stove and put the kettle on in readiness for a cup of tea, I ed for daylight

As I watched the face of the sleeping girl, now rather flushed from the wariven her, I thought I had never before seen a fairer and sweeter countenance, and even then began to bless the chance which had allowed me to become her protector

Once she stirred, and a look of dread, almost terror, caonised voice the single word ”Harold”

It s of tender ”protectiveness,” I felt quite a pang of jealousy against the unknoner of the name, and wondered in what relation she stood to hi such evident pain However, she did not awake as yet, and I had to possess htened for

II reh the skylight and realising that the fire was nearly out, in spite ofit up I cluirl stirred, opened her eyes, and sat up at once, evidently refreshed by her sleep and in full possession of all her faculties, and, of course, utterly bewildered at her surroundings and at finding a perfect stranger in charge of her

It made my heart ache to see, as memory caht, a cloud of dread and anxiety come over her, and her eyes fill with tears at the recollection; and if I had felt drawn to her before, I was doubly so nohen I saw her bravely brace herself to talk of them, and even smile up at me as she said--

”Will you tell ot here? It seems to me I have a lot to thank you for!”

I told her as briefly as I could the happenings of the night as far as I knew the to hear your adventures, and longing to help you to get back to your friends; but I beg of you not to tell me more than you feel inclined, nor to put any strain on yourself at present, but just tell me sufficient for me to kno to act for you”

She assured me she felt quite well, except for a headache (which certainly was only to be expected with such a bruise on her poor white forehead), and would like to tell , as it would be a relief to herlittle blush she added--